On Tuesday, May 25, 2021, members of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) virtually recognized three, 5th grade students for their winning entries as part of the National Missing Children’s Day poster contest.
CBI Director John Camper and others presented the first-place award to 5th grade student Paul Irvine, from Stone Creek Charter School in Gypsum, Colorado, who won Colorado’s poster contest in recognition of National Missing Children’s Day on May 25.
“Paul’s poster for the ‘Bring Our Missing Children Home’ contest features two hands forming a heart with a silhouette of a family inside. Sadly, another hand is just out of reach of the family inside the heart. It’s a poignant reminder of the inconceivable pain associated with a missing child and the importance of this critical issue,” said Director Camper.
The second and third place winners, Gracie McGough from Agate schools in Agate, Colorado and Charlotte O'Neill from St John the Baptist in Longmont were also recognized during the ceremony.
Tens of thousands of children are reported missing in the United States each year. Law enforcement, citizens, and even children have been instrumental in keeping children safe and returning them home to their families, communities and schools.
Colorado law enforcement received more than 6,400 reports of missing children in 2020. The reports were primarily for runaways, and were resolved within a few days or weeks. However, as of May 1, 2021, there were more than 600 cases of long-term missing (those missing a year or more) juvenile cases still active in Colorado.
Each year, missing children are honored during National Missing Children’s Day on May 25th.
